Cantwell To Captain Ireland Women Against Kazakhstan

The Ireland Women's team to play Kazakhstan in their third and final pool game of the IRB Women's Rugby World Cup has been named.

Head coach Philip Doyle has made 10 personnel changes and two positional switches to the team that overcame reigning world champions New Zealand 17-14 in their last outing.

A new look back-line sees full-back Jackie Shiels and wingers Vikki McGinn and Hannah Casey make their first starts of the tournament.
Grace Davitt and Lynne Cantwell(whose boots are pictured below) continue their centre partnership with Cantwell, Ireland's most-capped player, captaining the side in Fiona Coghlan's absence.

The versatile Tania Rosser, fresh from winning her 50th Ireland cap, moves to out-half with Larissa Muldoon coming in at scrum half.

Hooker Gillian Bourke - one of only two survivors in the pack - is joined by Fiona Hayes and Kerrie-Ann Craddock in the front row.

Orla Fitzsimons(pictured below), who also makes her first appearance of the tournament, will link up with Laura Guest in the second row.

Paula Fitzpatrick shifts from blindside flanker to number 8, while Sharon Lynch and the returning Siobhan Fleming complete the back row.

Coghlan, Ailis Egan, Sophie Spence, Claire Molloy, Nora Stapleton, Alison Miller and Ashleigh Baxter are all named among the replacements.

Speaking ahead of the third round tie, Doyle said: "Tuesday's win against New Zealand was fantastic and really showed what this team can do. However, it was one game and we still have a lot of rugby to play.

"This World Cup is - and always has been - about our 26-player squad, and we are in a great position that we can use fresh players to maintain our standards and performances to date.

"Kazakhstan are a hugely physical side and we are not underestimating them. They will not be overcome easily."

Saturday's Pool B game, which kicks off at 12pm Irish time, will be televised live on TG4 and Sky Sports 3 HD.

Over 3,000 fans turned out at Irish Independent Park on Wednesday to cheer on the Ireland squad as they continued their preparations for the upcoming Rugby World Cup. Check out our photo galleries from a very enjoyable day in Cork.

The countdown is on to the Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23. Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens & Women's Rugby, previews what promises to be an exciting couple of days.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

The countdown is on to the Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23. Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens & Women's Rugby, previews what promises to be an exciting couple of days.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Jenny Murphy talks about the progress made by the Ireland Women's Sevens team and their pool draw for the upcoming Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Conor Murray and Tommy Bowe speak to Irish Rugby TV about their Rugby World Cup preparations and thank the thousands of supporters who came out to see the players at the open training session at the Sportsground.

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell gives his verdict on the team's new Rugby World Cup jersey and talks about his move to French club Toulon. Ireland's RWC 2015 range is available to pre-order now from http://shop.irishrugby.ie.

Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens, talks about the target of a top three finish for both the Ireland Men and Women in Lisbon this weekend, as they continue on their quests for Olympic qualification.

Tom Daly, who recently captained the Ireland Men's Sevens team to the European Division C and B titles, is looking forward to playing in this weekend's Rugby Europe Olympic Repechage tournament in Lisbon, Portugal.

Ireland will host the 'Women's Sevens Dublin' at UCD on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23. Tournament director Garrett Tubridy and Ireland stars Lucy Mulhall, Jenny Murphy and Louise Galvin speak about their excitement ahead of the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series qualifier.

Coach Allen Clarke and stand-in captain Billy Holland answer questions from the media following Emerging Ireland's 45-12 victory over Georgia in the final round of their successful Tbilisi Cup campaign.

Emerging Ireland coach Allen Clarke speaks about his side's five-try 33-7 win over Uruguay in the Tbilisi Cup and the first half injury to captain Rhys Ruddock. They wrap up the tournament against hosts Georgia on Sunday.

Speaking about the floods that occurred following the Tbilisi Cup's first round, Emerging Ireland team manager Joey Miles said: "A natural event like that, a tragedy like that puts the game of rugby into perspective. We express our regrets to the Georgian people and the Georgian Union for the terrible tragedy that they had."

David O'Reilly from the IRFU Charitable Trust's Corporate Patrons Committee speaks about the new scheme which provides businesses with unique networking opportunities and provides a platform for companies to effectively activate their CSR programmes. For further information, please contact Linda Black of the Charitable Trust - telephone (01) 6473866 or email: linda.black@irfu.ie / http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/34728.php.